Check out this shiny new trailer for Marvel’s upcoming summer flick Captain America: The First Avenger. This one expands upon the original trailer, and it’s definitely more bad-ass. Again we get to watch a scrawny Steve Rogers transform into the super solider Captain America and this time we get a better look at Red Skull’s army HYDRA. As much as I enjoyed Thor and Green Lantern, Cap is going to blow those away. The First Avenger makes his way to the big screen July 22.
Category Archives: Video
Microsoft aims to bring “natural user interface ads” to Xbox
Teenagers are social creatures; it is known. That’s why Microsoft is experimenting with Kinect to bring interactive and socially-inclined advertisements to Xbox 360. Such ads that take advantage of gestures and speech captured by Kinect are being called “natural user interface ads,” or NUads for short. Imagine you spy an ad for Coke that piques your interest. Say aloud “Xbox, tweet” and the console will automagically send out a short message and link to the ad to all your Twitter followers. New scenario: You see a spot for Adidas that’s advertising a promotional event and want to learn more about it. Simply say “Xbox, more” and instantly you’ll receive an email with more information about the sponsored event. Here’s another: You see an ad for NBC’s The Voice and you can’t miss tomorrow night’s new episode. Speak “Xbox, schedule” and the console will send a reminder to your Windows Phone and you’ll be alerted before the episode begins. Watch the video embedded above to see all these voice commands and gestures in action. Others include “Xbox, near me” and voting for your preferences by waving your hand.
Ads suck in general. But new innovation like this might just inject a spark of excitement into the viewing experience. Social interactivity is all the rage these days; add these elements to advertisements and perhaps the act of watching them will be less painful.
[Via MicrosoftAdvertising]
Apple outs new Time Capsule, Final Cut Pro X [Update: Conan slams it (video)]
At long last Apple’s Time Capsule gets a refresh. The sleek device that serves as a wireless base station and a backup hard drive comes in two sizes: 2TB and 3TB. The 1TB model has been discontinued. But now you get more bang for your buck! While the local storage increases, prices remain the same: $299.99 for the 2TB model and $499.99 for the 3TB model. Besides the bump in storage, Apple claims that “new technologies in Time Capsule and refinements to Time Machine make backing up to Time Capsule using Snow Leopard up to 75 per cent faster than before.” Get yours at Apple’s online store today.
In related Apple news, the company has let loose its totally revamped version of Final Cut Pro. The video editing software is built on 64-bit architecture and boasts a completely redesigned UI which includes a Magnetic Timeline, Content Auto-Analysis, and and background rendering. Jump after the break for more details. Final Cut Pro X is available today exclusively from the Mac App Store (read: no disc) for $299.99. Motion 5 and Compressor 4 are also available for download in the Store for $49.99 a piece.
Update: Watch Conan slam the new FCP in the hilarious clip posted after the break! There’s been public outcry concerning lack of features and backwards compatibility; such omissions could lead one to madness.
[Via Apple] Continue reading Apple outs new Time Capsule, Final Cut Pro X [Update: Conan slams it (video)]
Google intros Voice Search & Search by Image
I’m sure you noticed the new microphone icon that sits in the far right corner of the Google search box. Click it and now you can speak your search! Google hopes that this new feature will be useful for hard-to-spell and complex searches. Voice Search is rolling out now on google.com in English; if you don’t see it yet you should soon.
When you head over to Google Images, a new camera icon replaces the microphone in the search box. Click it to upload any picture from your computer or paste in an image URL from the web and Google will try to figure out what it is and provide relevant results. For example, if you upload an old vacation photo Google will try to pick out and identify landmarks and then instantly provide other images and relevant websites pertaining to the landmark. Give it a try at images.google.com. The new feature is being rolled out now globally in 40 languages.
Note that these new features require the Chrome browser to work. Search by Image, however, can be used inside Firefox if you download the appropriate extension available here. Demonstration videos sit after the break.
[Via GoogleBlog] Continue reading Google intros Voice Search & Search by Image
A nerd goes on a date with a hot chick…
…who happens to be a more sophisticated nerd. Hilarity ensues. I imagine this is what it would be like to go on a date with G4’s Alison Haislip, am I right?
[Via CollegeHumor; thanks Andrew S.]
Weird Al parodies Lady Gaga in “Perform This Way” video
“I’m sure my critics will say it’s a grotesque display/Well, they can bite me, baby — I perform this way/ I might be wearin’ Swiss cheese or maybe covered with bees/It doesn’t mean I’m crazy — I perform this way.”
Weird Al Yankovic is back and this time he’s taking on pop queen Lady Gaga. From the intelligently goofy lyrics (see above) to the strange and bizarre direction of the music video everything here is pure win. I can’t wait to see what else the master of parody comes up with next; we can expect more content coming soon since his thirteenth studio album Alpocalyse drops tomorrow.
Trailer: The Muppets
It’s finally here. After rom-com and Green Lantern teasers and this, the first full-length real deal theatrical trailer for The Muppets has been released. Human stars Jason Segal and Amy Adams are joined by the entire Muppet cast (including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy) in this super fun trailer that’s filled to the brim with action, adventure, and…driving! Watch it above and look forward to the movie’s November 23 release date.
Bloodthirsty kids deal fake drugs in this spectacularly animated music video
You may not have heard of London-based pop group Is Tropical, but I guarantee you will get a kick out of their music video for their latest single “The Greeks.” Directed by Megaforce (the man behind the trippy Cudder clip “Pursuit of Happiness“), the video follows a bunch of bloodthirsty kids who indulge themselves in murdering each other in the most spectacularly disturbing of ways. The cartoonish animation is provided by Seven and it helps spin the rather graphic nature of the music video into an enjoyable visual feast.
The band describes the video like this: “Part Rumblefish, part Die Hard, part Akira, we wanted to work together to create something both visually appealing and aesthetically relevant to the band. We like kids, we like gangs, we really like daydreaming and imagination; the video straddles the line between nostalgia and the visual death-porn of our generation – the action film. Don’t get carried away by politics – this is a straight-up kid brawl the way it played out in your head when you were stealing your mums mascara to be like Arnie in Predator. It isn’t a shocking rebuke to our drama queen, populist news culture either – just naive, blissful shoot-yr-mate until he’s definitely dead war-games – the way you wish it still could be.”
Sure the video is great and all, but do you also like what you hear? The single “The Greeks” is available to download for free right here, and Is Tropical’s debut album Is Native is out now in the UK.
Owl City’s ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ out now
Adam Young’s third studio album is out now! “All Things Bright and Beautiful” features 12 songs from the electro-pop-synth master, including singles “Alligator Sky” and “Galaxies.” iTunes is currently offering the bonus track version which includes all 12 tracks, the aforementioned singles, and “How I Became the Sea.” Pick up Owl City’s new space travel-themed album today; it should join Ocean Eyes, Maybe I’m Dreaming and An Airplane Carried Me To Bed in your growing collection of all things Adam Young.
Bonus! Hop after the break to watch a “making of” video that features Young talking about the process of putting the album together. Continue reading Owl City’s ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ out now
Music video: Lady Gaga – “The Edge of Glory”
Take a trip with Lady Gaga on the edge of glory in this brand spankin’ new video for her Born This Way single. Gaga travels back to the ’80s and takes revealing garment and pulsing dance moves and E Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons with her in the fun, upbeat clip.
Music video: Katy Perry – “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”
Katy Perry lets her nerdtastic alter ego Kathy Beth Terry loose in this new music video for “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”. The clip includes a couple of Gleeks (Darren Criss, Kevin McHale), 90s pop band Hanson, sax player Kenny G, Debbie Gibson and Corey Feldman play Kathy’s parents, and then there’s Rebecca Black (obviously). Like most of Katy Perry’s singles this one’s catchy, so beware. Now watch the star-studded video above!
Watch Conan O’Brien deliver Dartmouth’s commencement address
Yesterday morning late night talk show host Conan O’Brien delivered the main address at Dartmouth College’s 2011 commencement exercises. The 25 minute speech is chock full of jokes, but it’s the latter half that really hits home for the students. Conan’s transition from NBC to cable TV proved to be an enlightening experience for the comedian, and so he was able to share valuable advice with the graduating class. A couple choice quotes:
“It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound reinvention.”
“Whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.”
Watch it in full above.